A pretty effective movie, I particularly like the rebounding Newman character refusing the offer of settlement, stating that he can't be a "rich ambulance chaser." That, and the description of the archdiocese's lawyer (James Mason) as a...
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A pretty effective movie, I particularly like the rebounding Newman character refusing the offer of settlement, stating that he can't be a "rich ambulance chaser." That, and the description of the archdiocese's lawyer (James Mason) as a next coming of hell.

An early 80s movie in lots of its trappings, tons of drinking and smoking - not because they are that common but because they indicate stress and "complexity" - one of the cimema world's transitions. Since the movie strives for "realism", it probably makes the mistake of assigning too much "realistic" dialog to too many characters, another typical 80s device.

"Legally, its over", seems to be the "verdict", but its not - as this fairly complicated courtroom drama winds to a close - and a pretty amibiguous close it is.